Can one grow A Service Berry in a Pot?

I have a spot on my back deck where I'd like to have A Service Berry (Amenlanchier) growing in a pot near a window bird feeder. That would require a fairly good size pot and frequent pruning to keep it no more than 5-6 feet high.

My questions are: Is this practical? What size pot would it take? What kind of winter care would it require? Is Osmocote a good fertilizer option? Does anyone else do this?, etc.

Feel free to answer all or none of the above, although any basic tips on any aspect of container gardening would be appreciated as it's brand new to me.

Thanks.

HGTV's "Gardening By the Yard" had a show on container trees - and yes, Serviceberry was one they listed that could be grown in a container.

This link (hopefully) will take you to the site for that particular show.

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/gl_trees_shrubs_deciduous/article/0,,HGTV_3644_1390120,00.html

If not, go to HGTV.com & do a search on container trees

I have a purple leaf plum growing in a 20" pot.

Nancy

Nancy:

I want to quickly thank you before I even check the links.

How tall is your purple leaf plum?

Dave

Just wanted to say that the link is a gold mine of information.

I assume I'll need at least the same size pot you have. I also assume yours is not terra cotta with the cold winters you have (like me). When and if you have some time to kill, give this newbie any additional details you wish -- about the pot, for instance.

I realize you are probably busy wrapping Christmas presents!

Thanks,
Dave

LOL! All the gifts re wrapped.... actually, I'm at work!
Shhhhh.... don't tell on me! LOL!

I just realized I said I had a purple leaf plum... it's a PURPLELEAF SAND CHERRY )Prunus x cistena) sorry 'bout that.

When I purchased it in 2003, it was in one of those black gallon containers. (the nursery was having a sale) - and was about 4ft tall.
It's now between 5-6 ft tall.

The only thing I did last winter (the 1st one) was put some mulch on it.
In the spring - I was doing a happy dance when I spotted buds.

I have it in one of those foam pots that looks like stone.

Here's a pic of it in Oct 2003 - with its fall foliage.

Nancy

It's a beauty! I hope the Service Berry looks half that nice. I'm so new in my research I don't even have a good picture of one.

I've picked it purely because it's considered the most favorite shrub of birds generally. That's what I want for my Birdscaping regardless of what it looks like. I understand the birds eat the berries even before they ripen enough for us humans to eat (which some people do I'm told).

I checked checked with my favorite local store and they sell 24" pots for around $35 and there are many versions.

I guess I'll be doing a lot more pruing than you do since the Service Berry can get 15 to 20 feet tall if left alone, I'm told. I'm planning pruning twice a year.

Now that I know that they are ok in a pot, I've made up my mind to get three of them. A potted one for the deck and the other two to top two landscape mounds I have in the back yard. And I still haven't seen a full picture of one. All I saw were berries in the PDB.

Being basically lazy, I'm still wondering if I can limit my fertilizing to a 2 or 3 times a year of Osmocote or is that a "no no" in container gardening? I'll keep it watered, of course

Now, to look for a pic!

Thanks and Happy Holidays to you Nancy,
Dave

Just wanted to post that I searched the Container Gardening Forum for Osmocote and see it get's rave reviews. Great!

Also picked up the tip that it could be supplemented every two weeks with M Gro which I will probably do to baby my new Service Berry shrubs in the spring. If anyone thinks the M Gro is unwise, please let me know.

Now, if someone would just kindly post a picture of what I've already committed myself to, I would greatly appreciate it. I've been too preoccupied with it's birdscaping value to care at all what it looks like.

Just kidding , I guess. I'll certainly get around to getting a full view pic soon.

I've never been in this forum before but I will be using it a lot now.

I'm still hoping to get some secret tip from a "pro" so feel free to post your thoughts.

Happy Holidays to all who views this.

I would go easy on the MG.....it may promote more top growth than you are wanting....thus making you have to prune more often. The Osmocote looks like a better choice for a container tree. In my experience with plants that stay in containers, the slow growth is better...it might keep it happier in the container longer.

You might see what kind of fert. that fruit and nut trees get...they come in spikes that you drive in the ground and are slow release too. This might give your tree the nuitrients needed to produce fruit instead of lush green growth that you'll have to cut back. Since fruiting is the desireable result for your bird population, I would look in that direction. Our farm store sells fruit tree spikes...you might check with yours.

When I remember to fertilize, I use Osmocote.
I say "remember" because I am known to forget. LOL!
I think my garden grows by sheer luck. LOL!

You can see more pics here-

http://www.picturetrail.com/gabagoo

Happy Holidays to you as well!

For those who are wanting a big pot for trees. Go to a place like Tractor Supply and buy one of their feed buckets. About 14.00 and with two rope handles that can be removed if wanted. Wood pattern and different colors.

Dave I wish I had a good picture of my native Amelanchier, but never thought to take one. it is out at the back of my garden where the fruit trees are. i planted it there hoping the birds would leave the cherries alone, but they just think it is an additional treat. I rarely ever get to eat one of the June berries as the birds eat them before they are really ripe. I also have another cultivated variety of amelanchier, Forest Prince, planted nearer the house by my shade lath house, and birds also love that one. Ever so often I find one of the native variety growing somewhere in the yard where the birds dropped a seed. I would think a Service berry would grow nicely in a large pot. If you can get to a Costco or that type of store I think you could find a large enough one of the foam type pots for less than $35.00. I bought some at Costco and am sure i didn't pay that much. I am in zone 5 also, but mostly grow annuals in the large pots, but do leave the pots outside all winter without dumping the soil. As someone else mentioned MG might promote too much leaf growth. Actually if you have or make your own compost that would probably be the best bet for good growth.

Another shrub that the birds really like are the Elderberries. There are many varieties. Here is a photo of one of the several varieties that I grow. Donna

Wow!

I must say that the group on this forum has given me the warmest and best reception I've ever gotten on DG.

You must be a dedicated and loyal tight-knit group and I'm pleased as heck to be one of you now.

Based on your advice, I'm eliminating the M Gro and the comment on using spikes haunts me in that it could be that "secret tip" that might prove to be most helpful to me. Based on what little research I've done the Service Berry can get huge and I sure don't want to compound the problem as M Gro would have likely done.

Thanks to all of you. It's great to be here.
Dave

Dave, another plant that birds love, and that can successfully grown in containers is Russian Olive. They rarely get over 10' tall and seem indestructible. I haven't checked on zone hardiness, but will go do so now. Many have escaped into the wild around here and they can be seen in the fencerows (where perching birds have deposited the seeds)

(headed for the PDB now)

http://davesgarden.com/pdb/go/64661

Here's the link...it's hardy to z3...but there's conflicting info on growing conditions. Some say it's a bog plant and others say it grows well in dry conditions. In my experience, it grows well in good fertile soil and needs only a normal amount of water.
It is noted that it can reproduce to the point of invasiveness, so you might want to take care to pull any seedlings that may sprout.
I can't say it's invasive....you can spot them here and there along the roadsides, but not in numbers that would warrent an 'invasive' title.

This message was edited Dec 15, 2004 7:54 AM

Here's another thought about your Serviceberry.....check where the blooms and fruit come from, and make sure that your pruning won't take away the desired fruiting branches. Some fruit trees bloom and fruit on new wood, and others do so on branches of a certian age. That means if it fruits on 2 year old wood, and you cut off all the previous seasons growth at the end of the season, you're cutting off your buds. If it blooms on new growth, and you keep that cut back...then you won't see any fruit from the older branches.

Incidently, the name Serviceberry or Sarviceberry is an old Applachian name that the hill folk gave it. In the early Spring, it's blooming was a sign that the circuit riding preachers would be heading into the mountains to start holding services for the residents of the tiny little isolated hamlets. Thus the name 'Service'berry.

Thanks greatly, melody;

Talk about a "pro", you are one!

Thanks too for the extra bonus of the rich historical details, et al.

Warm regards,
Dave.

Hi, Dave---The serviceberry seems like a great idea to attract the birds--we have one in a front garden that has been growing for 6-8 years and it's not over 6 feet (and we never fertilize or prune it but it's not in a pot) and the robins and other songbirds love it.

The other bush that you might like that has beautiful berries and the birds like is 'Beautyberry'. It doesn't get so big at all and the berries 'come on' at a different time than the seviceberries so you will have a longer 'bird attraction' period in your garden. 'Beautyberry' grows in your zone, I think, since it grows well in northern Ohio.... there are some new varieties to check out, too.

Here's a link that talks about Beautyberry and other 'bird attractors' for the garden.... http://www.birds-n-garden.com/birdgarden.html

Good luck....t.

Thanks t and Merry Christmas!

Just a note that you might file somewhere....here in z7, Serviceberry trees can get quite large. I was talking to my sis, and she mentioned a childhood friend who had one...they climbed into it...ate the berries and looked into the second story windows.

Yes, melody;

I've been informed of that. The ones I do get wil be pruned at least twice a year.

Thanks for thinking of me. How's that software working for you when you want a 4:3 aspect ratio?

Dave

software is perfect...only takes a second and I save the image as full size and resize...that way, I have one of each.

Thanks for asking.

Hi, there :) Planted this little serviceberry (Amelanchier grandiflora 'Autumn Brilliance') early in the summer last year. Can't wait to see how it's doing this Spring :) I can see little buds on it now! This pic is from early last fall. It turned a beautiful orange-red before the leaves dropped.

Didn't realize that pic was so big until I posted it. Hope you can get an idea!

This message was edited Feb 8, 2005 8:35 PM

Thanks for the pic!

Check http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/482546/#new (my other thread) for a fuller response.